Ask.com says goodbye to the world: search engine shut down after 25 years of operation

Ask.com closes after 25 years of operation

The search engine and question‑answer service Ask.com, formerly known as Ask Jeeves, has officially ceased operations. The IAC holding company that owned the platform announced the end of its search business.

- Brand history

- Launched in 1996 as Ask Jeeves – one of the first services that allowed users to ask questions in natural language and receive answers.

- For almost its entire existence it remained in the shadow of Google.

- Key dates

- In 2005 IAC acquired Ask Jeeves and quickly renamed it Ask.com.

- In 2010 the company abandoned its search product, focusing instead on a question‑answer format.

- That same year IAC board chairman Barry Diller stated that Ask.com could not compete with Google and is not factored into the holding’s market valuation.

- Official announcement

A farewell message appeared on the site:

> “As IAC continues to focus on its priority areas, we have decided to discontinue the search business, including Ask.com. After 25 years of answering questions from around the world, Ask.com officially closed on May 1, 2026.”

- Final touch

The farewell page emphasized: “the spirit of Jeeves lives.” A week before closing Udaff.com – another service linked to the same brand – also shut down.

Thus, after nearly a quarter‑century, Ask.com ended its operations, leaving behind a legacy of early search technologies and a predecessor to modern chatbots.